- The Origins of Magna Carta, 1215: There are multiple pages and links to explore here.
- The Petition of Right, 1628: This is the text of the petition.
- The Petition of Right, 1628: This is background information about the petition.
- The English Declaration of Rights, 1689 – “The English Declaration of Rights.”
- The English Bill of Rights, 1689.
- The Origins of Common Law
- Letters Patent to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, 1578
- The First Charter of Virginia, 1610
- The Virginia Company of London
- Charter of Carolina, 1663
- Background on Charter of Carolina, 1663
- Dale’s Laws, 1610
- History of House of Burgesses
- Virginia Rules on Conduct and Religion, 1619
- Virginia Statues on Slavery, 1662-69
- Maryland Toleration Act, 1649
- The Mayflower Compact, 1620
- The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639
- The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution, Roger Williams, 1644
- The Trial of William Penn, 1670
- Pennsylvania, William Penn: Frame of Government, 1682
- Navigation Act, 1651
- Locke: Second Treatise of Government, 1688
- The Zenger Case, 1735
- Indian and White Views on Property, 1742
- James Otis: Against Writs of Assistance (1761)
- The Stamp Act, 1765
- Blackstone: Parliamentary Omnipotence (1765)
- Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions (1765)
- The Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress
- Dickenson: Letter from a farmer in Pennsylvania, 1767
- Boston Non-Importation Agreement, 1768
- Charleston Non-Importation Agreement, 1769
- Somerset v. Stewart, 1772
- Association of the Sons of Liberty in New York, 1773
- Proceedings of Farmington, Connecticut, on the Boston Port Act, 1774
- Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress, 1774
- The Charlotte Town Resolves, 1775
- Paine: Common Sense, 1776
- Adams: Thoughts on Government, 1776
- Lee’s Resolutions, 1776
- Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence, 1776
- Declaration of Independence, 1776
- Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776
- Constitution of Pennsylvania, 1776
- Constitution of Maryland, 1776
- Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, 1779
- An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, 1780
- Articles of Confederation, 1781
- Northwest Ordinance, 1787
- The Virginia Plan, 1787
- The New Jersey Plan, 1787
- Hamilton’s Plan, 1787
- Madison Debates, 1787
- Constitution of the United States, 1787
- Debate Over the Importation of Slaves, 1787
- Madison: Federalist No. 10, 1787
- Hamilton: Federalist: No. 78, 1788
- Brutus, No. 1, 1787
- Federal Farmer, No. 1, 1787
- The Bill of Rights, 1789-1791
- The Judiciary Act, 1789
- Jefferson’s Opinion on the Constitutionality of a National Bank: 1791
- Hamilton’s Opinion as to the Constitutionality of the Bank of the United States: 1791
- John Jay on Separation of Powers, 1793
- Hamilton: Pacificus No. 1, 1793
- Madison: Helvidius No. 1, 1793
- The Alien Act, 1798
- The Sedition Act, 1798
- The Virginia Resolution, 1798
- The Kentucky Resolution, 1799
- Marbury v. Madison, 1803
- Dartmouth College v. Woodward, 1819
- McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819
- Gibbons v. Ogden, 1824
- Veto of the Bank Bill, 1832
- South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification, 1832
- President Jackson’s Proclamation Regarding Nullification, 1832
- Worcester v. Georgia, 1832
- State v. Mann, 1829
- Prigg v Pennsylvania, 1842
- Fugitive Slave Act, 1850
- Douglas: What, to the Slave, is the Fourth of July? 1852
- Massachusetts Personal Liberty Act, 1855
- Dred Scott v. Sandford, 1856
- Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858
- The Limits of Federal Power, 1860
- South Carolina Ordinance of Secession, 1860
- Constitution of the Confederate States, 1861
- Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address, 1861
- Ex parte John Merryman, 1861
- Texas Ordinance of Secession, 1861
- Emancipation Proclamation, 1863
- Gettysburg Address, 1863
- Lincoln: Constitutionality of the Draft, 1863
- Ex Parte Vallandigham, 1864
- Second Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln, 1865